Three die set and the 550B
Quote from Reloader on February 5, 2008, 5:55 pmOk I have a brand new RL550B on the way. I have RCBS 45acp die set that is going to be used in the press now. My question is this, I was watching a video on how to set up the machine on Youtube where they guy states that the powder funnel also flairs the case mouth. If this does then can i negate the one die from the set and replace it with the powder cop die? I think the guy did a good job on the videos but I want to know from the wonderful folks at Dillon Precision if he is right.
I am a 24+ year user of a single stage making the jump to progressive. I had a buddy of mine a few years ago (Before the powder check die) get a double charge and blew his revolver clean in two. I am not sure if it was user error or the machine malfunction. I do not want my Kimber to go blewie in my hand you know that could be a bad thing.
Also What if you do not crimp bottle neck loads? I plan to do a little 308 and 223 loading on it in the future but I currently do not crimp my 223 or 308 loads. If I use the dillon will I need to switch to flaring and crimping?
Ok I have a brand new RL550B on the way. I have RCBS 45acp die set that is going to be used in the press now. My question is this, I was watching a video on how to set up the machine on Youtube where they guy states that the powder funnel also flairs the case mouth. If this does then can i negate the one die from the set and replace it with the powder cop die? I think the guy did a good job on the videos but I want to know from the wonderful folks at Dillon Precision if he is right.
I am a 24+ year user of a single stage making the jump to progressive. I had a buddy of mine a few years ago (Before the powder check die) get a double charge and blew his revolver clean in two. I am not sure if it was user error or the machine malfunction. I do not want my Kimber to go blewie in my hand you know that could be a bad thing.
Also What if you do not crimp bottle neck loads? I plan to do a little 308 and 223 loading on it in the future but I currently do not crimp my 223 or 308 loads. If I use the dillon will I need to switch to flaring and crimping?
Quote from Reloader on February 6, 2008, 6:03 pmYou are correct in that you will not use your expander die on the RL550B.
You can use a powder cop die on station 3; we prefer to seat at station 3 and seeparate crimp at station 4, but you are free to seat and crimp at the same time .
You do not flare bottleneck rifle cases. On those, the funnel in the powder measure is female;the case merely goes up into the funnel and pushes it up to activate the powder measure. The funnel only guides powder into the case. So if you aren't shooting a semi or full-auto, no reason to crimp most bottleneck rifle rounds.
You are correct in that you will not use your expander die on the RL550B.
You can use a powder cop die on station 3; we prefer to seat at station 3 and seeparate crimp at station 4, but you are free to seat and crimp at the same time .
You do not flare bottleneck rifle cases. On those, the funnel in the powder measure is female;the case merely goes up into the funnel and pushes it up to activate the powder measure. The funnel only guides powder into the case. So if you aren't shooting a semi or full-auto, no reason to crimp most bottleneck rifle rounds.
Quote from Reloader on February 14, 2008, 6:33 amYou can use RCBS three die sets in an RL550B but you'll be much happier with Dillon dies. In order to use the RCBS dies you have to set them so the first one deprimes & primes (pnly) & the second stage sizes (where Dillon dies normally bell the cases & dump powder because, they're already sized during the priming stage). Then you have to bell the necks & dump the powder at stage three, set the bullet on top & then rotate the shell plate before you seat & crimp the bullet in the last stage. Not handy. Also trying to start cases into the non tapered RCBS sizing die is a PITA. With Dillon dies you size & deprime/prime in stage one, bell necks & dump powder at stage two, seat the bullet at stage three (without having to rotate the shell plate with a bullet balanced on top a case), & then crimp it (or not, in the case of the .45ACP) at stage four. I've replaced all my straight walled case dies with Dillon except my RCBS .357 dies & I'll buy Dillon dies before I use up all my loaded a.357 ammo again. Dillon dies cut loading time for straight walled cases by at least a third.
Oregunner
You can use RCBS three die sets in an RL550B but you'll be much happier with Dillon dies. In order to use the RCBS dies you have to set them so the first one deprimes & primes (pnly) & the second stage sizes (where Dillon dies normally bell the cases & dump powder because, they're already sized during the priming stage). Then you have to bell the necks & dump the powder at stage three, set the bullet on top & then rotate the shell plate before you seat & crimp the bullet in the last stage. Not handy. Also trying to start cases into the non tapered RCBS sizing die is a PITA. With Dillon dies you size & deprime/prime in stage one, bell necks & dump powder at stage two, seat the bullet at stage three (without having to rotate the shell plate with a bullet balanced on top a case), & then crimp it (or not, in the case of the .45ACP) at stage four. I've replaced all my straight walled case dies with Dillon except my RCBS .357 dies & I'll buy Dillon dies before I use up all my loaded a.357 ammo again. Dillon dies cut loading time for straight walled cases by at least a third.
Oregunner
Quote from Reloader on February 14, 2008, 7:15 amYou can use RCBS three die sets in an RL550B but you'll be much happier with Dillon dies. In order to use the RCBS dies you have to set them so the first one deprimes & primes (pnly) & the second stage sizes (where Dillon dies normally bell the cases & dump powder because, they're already sized during the priming stage). Then you have to bell the necks & dump the powder at stage three, set the bullet on top & then rotate the shell plate before you seat & crimp the bullet in the last stage. Not handy. Also trying to start cases into the non tapered RCBS sizing die is a PITA. With Dillon dies you size & deprime/prime in stage one, bell necks & dump powder at stage two, seat the bullet at stage three (without having to rotate the shell plate with a bullet balanced on top a case), & then crimp it (or not, in the case of the .45ACP) at stage four. I've replaced all my straight walled case dies with Dillon except my RCBS .357 dies & I'll buy Dillon dies before I use up all my loaded a.357 ammo again. Dillon dies cut loading time for straight walled cases by at least a third.
Oregunner
You can use RCBS three die sets in an RL550B but you'll be much happier with Dillon dies. In order to use the RCBS dies you have to set them so the first one deprimes & primes (pnly) & the second stage sizes (where Dillon dies normally bell the cases & dump powder because, they're already sized during the priming stage). Then you have to bell the necks & dump the powder at stage three, set the bullet on top & then rotate the shell plate before you seat & crimp the bullet in the last stage. Not handy. Also trying to start cases into the non tapered RCBS sizing die is a PITA. With Dillon dies you size & deprime/prime in stage one, bell necks & dump powder at stage two, seat the bullet at stage three (without having to rotate the shell plate with a bullet balanced on top a case), & then crimp it (or not, in the case of the .45ACP) at stage four. I've replaced all my straight walled case dies with Dillon except my RCBS .357 dies & I'll buy Dillon dies before I use up all my loaded a.357 ammo again. Dillon dies cut loading time for straight walled cases by at least a third.
Oregunner
Quote from Reloader on March 5, 2008, 9:10 pmI'll have to second Oregunner's recommendation for Dillon dies. They will load ammo that is very accurate and the ease at which you can clean the dies without losing the settings is a big plus. They are well worth buying!
I'll have to second Oregunner's recommendation for Dillon dies. They will load ammo that is very accurate and the ease at which you can clean the dies without losing the settings is a big plus. They are well worth buying!